Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



No. 680,699. Patented Aug. 29. |901.

V J. T. GUWLEY.

PNEUHATIG DESPATCH APPARATUS.

(Application led Nov. 27, 1899.| (No PAndeL 2 Sheets-Sheet w H. H

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K Patented Aug. 20, 190|. J. T. CWLEY. PNEUMATIC DESPATCH APPARATUS. (Application filed Nov. 2T, 1899.'.` (No Model.)

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JAMES T.V COWLEY, OF LOVELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEW' ARK,

NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATlCnDESPATCt-l APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,699, dated August 20, 1901.

Application iiled November 27, 1899. Serial No. 738,331. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. CowLnY, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch Apparatus, of 'which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in pneumaticdespatch apparatus; andthe object is to provide an im.- proved receiving-terminal for receiving and delivering carriers.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure l is a side elevation of the terminal with part of one side removed to show interior parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the terminal with part of one side removed, showing the interior mechanism in a different position from that shown in Fig. l and in normal position. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the terminal. Fig. et is a detail view of the top of the terminal. Fig. 5 is a side sectional view of the valve closing the lower end of the terminal with part of the dischargetube in full lines. Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line on cc, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail of the trip mechanism.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The tube B, extending from the opposite end of the line, passes up through the terminal C, and the upper end extends above the terminal C and is provided with a cover B', closing the upper end of the tube. (See Fig. 1l.) The carrier passing up through the tube B in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, all the parts within the terminal C being in the position shown in Fig. 2, the carrier will first engage with the trip-lever B2, mounted on the bearing B3 and having at its opposite end a catch B4, engaging with the catch B5 on the lever BG, which is pivoted at B to the sides of the terminal C. Pivoted at C is another switch-lever C2, which in its normal position is held in the position shown in Fig.

opposite end of which is connected one end of the spring CG, the opposite end being secured at C7 to the bottom of the terminal. The carrier passing upward through the tube B and engaging with the lever B2, as above described, will move the catch B4 out of engagement with the catch B5 on the lever B, allowing the spring CG to move the switchlever C2, carrying with it the lever B6, to the position shown in Fig. l, the upper end of the switch-lever C2 resting on the cushion CS in the upper end of the terminal C. Before the lever C2 moves over to the position shown in Fig. l the carrier will have passed above the lever C2 and entered the upper end of the tube B, closed by the cover B', and the carrier is cushioned by the air confined within the tube in front of the carrier. The oarrier after being cushioned and losing its momentum will drop back by gravity and be guided by the switch-lever C2 (which has been moved over, as shown in Fig. l, as above described) into the branch tube D of the terminal C and pass down through said tube by gravity and engage with the lower end of the lever B6, which is then in the position shown in Fig. l, and move the lever B back to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the catches B4 and B5 will again engage with each other and restore the parts to the position shown in Fig. 2. When the carrier first strikes the lever B6, the flat spring C3 will yield and allow the lever BG to move into engagement with the catch B4 before the switch-lever C2 has moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, and by this arrangement the instantaneous moveing of the entire weight of the parts is avoided, as the spring C3 will gradually return the lever C2 to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 2,) and also if two carriers should be passing through the terminal at once there would be sufficient time for both carriers to passinto the tube D and restore the lever BG to its nor mal position before the lever O2 moves to its normal position, Fig. 2. After the carrier has passed by the end of the lever B6 it will engage with and open the valve D, held in its closed position by the spring D2, and the carrier will then pass downwardly into the tube D3 of the terminal C, the spring D2 restoring the valve D to its normal position. The carrier will continue its downward course in the tube D3 and will cushion upon the air confined within said tube beforeit has reached 'the lower end of the tube. The lower end of the tube D2 is surrounded by a casing D4, which is provided with lugs D5, upon which is journaled the lever D6. This lever carries atits outer end the valve D7, closing the lowei1 end of the tube D3. This valve is provided with a cushion D10, upon which the carrier strikes when it reaches the lower end of the tube D3. Mounted on the valve' D7 is a plate D8, which engages with the lower end of the catch E. The upper end of this catch E is securely fastened at E to the shaft E2, which passes through the chamber E3 within the casing D4. On the shaft E2 and within the casing D4 is mounted the curved lever E4, held in its outward position by the spring E5 in position to be engaged by the carrier when ithas passeddown through the tubo D3. This catch E will hold the valve D7 closed against the pressure of the air in front of the downwardly-moving carrier in the tube D2 until the carrier reaches the lower end of the tube and is cushioned by the air within the tube D2. When the carrier reaches the lower end of the tube D2, it will engage with the lever E4, and through the connections of the shaft E2 and catch E the valve D7 Will be released and the weight of the carrier will open the valve and the carrier will pass out of the tube D3 and into any suitable receptacle. The weight D9 on the opposite end of the lever D6 will return the valve D7 to its normal position iu engagement with the catch E. As the carrier passes upwardly through the tube B and above the lever C2, as above described, in order that the compressed air in front of the carrier at the outer end of the tube B may not check the .momentum of the carrier before the carrier has passed above the lever C2 the tube F is provided, connecting at its upper end with the tube B and passing downwardly by the terminal C and entering the tube B again at F. (See dotted lines, Figs. l and 2.) The object of this is 4to provide a passage for the airfrom in front of the carrier as it enters the upper end of the tube B above the terminal C. After the carrier is cushioned in the upper end of the tube B and returns by gravity and is guided into the tube D, as above described, it is also guided by the plates G, located within the terminal and flush with the inside diameter of the tube B. After the carrier has passed above the lever B2 the latter is returned to its normal position by the spring G in position to engage with the catch B5 when the lever B6 is moved into its normal position. (Shown in Fig. 2.) The air in its passage upwardly through the tube B in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 will pass out of the tube B through the elongated opening H and into the space H around the tube B' in the direction of the arrows within the terminal, Fig. 2, and will pass down through the tube J, leading to a suitable exhaust apparatus for maintaining circulation of air within the tubes.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodyin g the same,what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, an inlet and an outlet for the carrier, a switchlever for guiding the carrier to the outlet, means for holding said lever out of its switching position, means for moving said lever into its switching position, mechanism actuated by the travelingcarrier for releasing said switch-lever to allow it to move into its switching position, and means for cushioning the carrier and retarding its travel before it is diverted by said switching-lever to the outlet.

2. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, an inlet and an outlet for the carrier, a switchlever for guiding the carrier to the outlet, means for holding said lever out of its switching position, means for moving said lever into its switching position, mechanism actuated by the traveling carrier for releasing said switch-lever to allow it to move into its switching position, mechanism located in the outlet and actuated by the traveling carrier for returning the switch-lever to its normal position,andv means for cushioning the carrier and retarding its travel before it is diverted by said switching-lever to the outlet.

3. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, an inlet and an outlet for the carrier, a switchlever for guiding the carrier to the outlet, means for holding said lever out of its switching position, means for moving said lever into its switching position,mechanism actuated by the traveling carrier for releasing said switchlever to allow it to move into its switching position, a lever located in the outlet and actuated by the traveling carrier for returning the switch-lever toits normal position, and a yielding connection between said lever and the switch-lever.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, an outlet for the carrier, a pivoted valve for closing said outlet, means for holding said valve closed, mechanism located adjacent to said valve and in the path of the traveling carrier and actuated thereby to move said valveholding means and thereby allow said valve to open, and means for automatically closing lzo v said valve after the carrier has been discharged.

5. In a pneumatic-despatch apparatus, an inlet and an outlet for the carrier, a switchlever for guiding the carrier to the outlet, means for holding said lever out of its switching position, means for moving said lever into its switching positiommeehanism actuated by the traveling carrier for releasing said switchlever to allow it to move to its switching position,means for cushioning said carrier and retarding its travel before it is diverted by said switching-lever to the outlet, a valve normally closing said outlet, means for holding said valve closed, mechanism located adja- JAMES T. COVLEY.

Witnesses:

A. L. MESSER, C. A. STEWARTi 

